Why You Should Take a Walking Tour in Berlin

It might be a bit nerdy, but I love taking walking tours through European cities, like Madrid. I absolutely adore hearing how each one of them single-handedly ended WW2, or how they fought the most important battle of the war. I leave each city a believer in how strong the citizens are. Berlin was no different, except I had a walking tour that brought tears to my eyes. This is one example of why you should take a walking tour in Berlin. Hope you are ready for a history lesson!

Because I am from the U.S. and WW2 wasn’t fought in my hometown or state for that matter, it seems far away, and like it was a long time ago. Being in Berlin, it was a big reminder it wasn’t that long ago at all. Our guide was magnificent, although not German (most guides are Australian or English travelers trying to make a few bucks), she told various stories about how the wall came down and about lovers separated and reunited again. She told us clever ways Germans used to get past the wall. Some of the love stories were so tragic I cried (but keep in mind a good commercial can make me cry, it doesn’t take much).

Holocaust memorial

She took us to a parking lot and said, “This is where Hitler died”. Berlin thought he deserved a parking lot over his burial site, instead of a tombstone. There were no signs or any indication that this was where his life ended.

where hitler died, a parking lot

One part that really caught my attention was the square, Babelplatz where they burned 20,000 books by greats like Marx and Freud. Having been a huge fan of the book, The Book Thief, it was very sad to see. Next to the space that commemorates the books burnt is a quote from well before the Holocaust occurred.

“That was only a prelude, there where they burn books, they burn in the end people.” -Heinrich Heine (1820)

the space commemorates the 20,000 books burnt, to the right is the original quote

Mother with her dead son’ a sculpture that is a memorial to the victims of fascism and militarism

On a softer note, she also showed us where Michael Jackson dangled his baby out the window. Yikes.

We wandered through the huge blocks at the Holocaust Memorial, which I was bothered to see kids sitting on and smoking weed. She took us through areas in which old buildings have bullet holes from the war. We saw old checkpoints for the wall, and propaganda from Hitler that was used against the German people.

Nazi propaganda- what they wanted the German’s to think life was like, painted on a wall

on the ground, in front of the propaganda wall, a photo of what life was REALLY like

I consider myself a history fan, although my lack of long-term memory means that if you ask me a question I’ll likely not be able to remember what I was taught. These walking tours make it nearly impossible to forget because you’re seeing it with your own eyes and the stories get stuck in your head. I recommend being a nerd in each European city and letting someone guide you through a tour. They may be free, but remember to tip whatever you think that tour was worth! If you’re not as into history you could consider a street art in Berlin tour or even a food tour.

look at all those bullet holes!

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Rachel Jones left a career in nursing and lived on the beaches of Goa, India for the five years. Now she lives in Mexico where she gives advice on the 40+ countries she’s visited in the last 10 years. She’s the author of two India travel e-books: Guide to India and Insider’s Guide to Goa. Her blog, Hippie in Heels, like its name, is a contradiction combining off-beat adventurous places with glamorous and bespoke travel. Hippie in Heels has been featured in ELLE, Marie Claire, Grazia, and Cosmopolitan magazines. She’s a writer for Bravo TV.

I totally love doing walking tours as they are affordable or even free and you get to know the history and some cultural backgrounds of the city and that’s great especially in cities with such important histories. I can also recommend the Alternative Tour in Berlin (http://bit.ly/18O1lRY) if you are into arts. It brings you to a lot of art centres within the centre of Berlin and I really loved these spots. I didn’t know them before even though I have spent quite a few days of my life in Berlin.

A walking tour of Berlin sounds like a great idea for the very reason you described – it’s such an important and historical city that it helps to have someone explain the points in digestible, bite-size chunks. I’ve been to Berlin twice, and LOVE it more each time I go but I also get a niggling feeling at the back of my head that’s itching to know more about the ins and outs of its history pertaining to WWII – it looks like I’ve found my answer. Thanks :D

Hey, Rachel – loved the stories and the pictures. I live in Berlin and didn’t know some of these details! Here’s another walking tour recommendation for the next time you’re in town. It’s centered on local food (but there’s lots of history and interesting stories along the way!) eat-the-world has four walking tours in different neighborhoods of Berlin. You can find more info here: http://bit.ly/1dPanje Would that be your cup of tea?

I think I went on the exact same walking tour with school! I remember telling the guide that room filled with light for the lost books was bad for the environment and he should think about the polar bears not the books.. ha. I loved the Book Thief too! We are heading back to Berlin this weekend and I think we’ll go on the tour again, but this time not hassle the tour guide..

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